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Patented July 28, 1891.

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(No Model.)

G. W. WRIGHT.

DOR OHBGK.

we Nonms uns c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GRANVILLE W'. VRIGHT, OF NElV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO TI-IESARGENT & COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

DOOR-CHECK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,748, dated July 28,1891.

Application filed February 16, 1891. Serial No. 381,665. (No model.)

To all wiz/0721, t may concern:

Beit known that I, GRANVILLE WVRTGHT, of New I-Iaven, in the county ofNew Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement inDoor-Checks; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in`connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of referencemarked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, andrepresent, in-

Figure l, a top or plan view of the check complete; Fig. 2, a side viewof the same; Fig. 3, a vertical sect-ion cutting on line no a' of Fig.4, but showing the post Q, the shaft I, and the valve :in side view;Fig. 4, a transverse section through the casing cutting on the line ofthe top of the piston and showing the piston at one extreme point of itsmovement; Fig. 5, the same as Fig. 4, showing the piston `at the otherextreme point of movement; and Fig. G, a vertical section through thevalve-chamber on line no of Fig. 3, Figs. Ll, 5, and G being enlarged.

This invention relates to an improvement in apparatus adapted to beapplied to doors to resist the sudden closing of the door and so as toprevent its slamming, particularly applicable to doors in which a springor other power is employed tending to force the door to its closedposition, the invention relating particularly to that class in which afluid is employed as the medium to resist such sudden closing ofthedoor.

In the construction of this class of doorchecks the Huid is inclosed ina chamber within which a piston is arranged, and to which pistonmovement is given by the swinging of the door, the iiuid under themovement of the piston passing from one side of the piston to the otherin the chamber. In the opening movement of the door such freedom isgiven to the passage of the uid from the then advancing side of thepiston to the other side as to offer no substantial resistance to theopening of the door; but on the return or closing movement of the-doorand as thepiston returns less freedom is given for the iiow of theiiuid, the Huid then offering a resistance to this return or closingmovement of the piston and sufficient to prevent the slamming of thedoor. Broadly considered, this combination of a chamber containing iiuidand a piston working therein is well known.

The object of my invention is a simple con struction of thefluid-chamber, piston, and its operative mechanism, whereby a smallquantity of fiuid may be employed, and at the same time the constructionof the apparatus be produced by lathe-work-that is, all the parts beingsubstantially circular-so as to be fin ished by boring or turning, as ina common lathe; and the invention consists in the construction ashereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims.

In the illustration I show the invention as applied in direct connectionwith the spring which is to operate to close the door.

A represents the case, which forms the spring-chamber. Itis constructedwith ears B or other device, by which it may be conveniently attached orsecured. The casingis of circular shape and within ita coiled spring C.is arranged. The casing is constructed with an extension D, which formsthe iuidchamber E, and, like the spring-chamber, this duid-chamber iscircular in shape, as seen in Figs. el and 5, and is substantiallyconcentricl "Y with the springchamber- The iiuid-chamber is separatedfrom the spring-cha1nber by a disk F, forming a close partition betweentheV two, the joint around the disk F being packed by a second disk G,screwed into the bottom of the spring-chamber upon suitable packing H,clearly seen in Fig.

Concentrically through the spring and fluid chambers is a shaft I, whichprojects through the top .I of the springchamher, and at its lower endit takes a bearing centrally in the bottom of the fluid-chamber, as atK. Its upper or outer end is provided with a lever L, by whichconnection is made to the door in the usual manner of connectingdoor-springs of this class with the door.

Around the shaft I and within the springchamber is a tubular shaft M.One end of the spring C is made fast to the shaft- M, and the other endof the spring is made fast to the casing, and so that as the shaft Mrotates in one direction it will wind the spring. Then` the reaction ofthe spring will return the shaft M. Connection is made between theshaftsI and M by means ot'la pawl N on the lever L and a ratchet-wheel Oon the shaft M, (a common arrangement in door-springs,) and so that asthe lever L swings under the opening and closing movement of the door itwill impart a corresponding oscillating movement to the shaft I, whichwill be engaged in one direction with the shaft M, so as to wind thespring, and so that as the spring is permitted to react it will returnthe shaft M and apply the force of the spring to the shaft I and thelever L in a well-known manner.

Within the uid-chamberE the piston P is arranged. This piston iscircular in shape, but of less diameter t-han the chamber E, and itslength corresponds to the distance between the bottom and top of thechamber, so that as the piston moves inthe said chamber it will work inclose contact with the top and bottom of the chamber. At one point inthe chamber and at one side is a stationary post Q, and at acorresponding point in the piston P a recess R is formed, so thatthe-piston may set onto the said post Q, the said post forming an axis,as it were, upon which the piston I may swing, as from the position seenin Fig. Ll to that seen in Fig. 5, and return. The shaft I extendsthrough the piston l?, and is constructed with an eccentric S within thepiston, the eccentricity of the said eccentric being equal to thedifference between the external diameter of the piston and the internaldiameter of the chamber in which the piston works, and so that as theshaft I oscillates under the swinging movement of the door, as from theposition seen in Fig. 4: to that seen in Fig. 5, itwill impart the swinging movement to the piston, before mentioned, and because of theeccentric which forms the connection between the shaft I and the pistonthe periphery of the piston on the longer radius of the eccentric willwork in close contact with the inner surface of the chamber throughoutits movement from one extreme to the other, the intermediate positionbeing indicated in broken lines, Fig. 5.

A passage is provided from one side of the piston to the other, so thatthe fluid placed in the chamber around the piston may pass from one sideto the other as the piston forces the fluid before it, the piston movingonly as fast as the fluid is displaced. Preferably the passage for theescape of fluid from -one side of the piston to the other is madethrough a valve-chamber T at one side of the casing and substantially inradial line with the post Q. A passage U opens from one side of the postQ into the said valve-chamber T, and a similar passage V opens from theother side of the post Q into the same chamber T. The valvechamber T ispreferably arranged above the plane of the piston-chamber and so thatthe passages turn upward and open respectively through ports WV X intothe valve-chamber T, as seen in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. In this valvechambera valve Z is arranged, here represented as a vertical spring-valve,which is Vvarious ways.

adapted to rest upon one of thel ports, here represented as X, and so asto readily yield to any pressure brought upon it tending to open it, butso as to seat itself upon the opening, and -resist a return flow throughthe port and passage-which it closes. The valve-chamber and valve areshown detached and enlarged in Fig. G. The space around the piston inthe piston-chamber, as well as the passagesand valve-chamber, issubstantially filled with fluid, any suitable iiuid being employed, asoil, mercury, glycerine, dac.

The position of the piston represented in Fig. 4 is that as when thedoor is closed and the fluid fills the space in the chamber around thepiston. As the door is opened, the shaft I turns and causes the pistonto swing around withinthe cylinder, pressing upon the fluid on its thenadvancing side, causing theV fluid to flow through the passage V andagainst the valve Z, seated upon the port X. This pressure causes thevalve .to rise, so as to allow a free flow of Huid, which passes throughthe valve-chamber and through the passage U to the then retreating sideof the piston and so as to offer no substantial obstruction to theopening movement of the door; but as the door closes the shaft I returnsand the piston returns with it, bringing the force upon the fluid 'onthe then advancing side of the piston, which causes that fluid to returnthrough the passage U; but such return of the iluid meets the valve inthe closed position, which resists the return of the fluid, and were noescape provided the closing movement of the door would be prevented.

A small aperture is provided at some point to restrict the return ofvthe fluid, so that its escape from the then advancing piston may IOO beso restricted and so gradual that the return movement of the piston willbe comparatively slow, and thus retard the return or closing movement ofthe door. The aperture for the return of the iiuid may be made in Ashere represented, the valve is attached eccentrically to a disk a, upona vertical shaft h, extending up from the valvechamber, the disk aclosely fitting the valvechainber and so as to form the top of thechamber, as seen in Fig. 6. The shaft extends through a plug c, which isscrewed into the valve-chamber or made fast therein, so as to firmlysupport the shaft, but yet allow the shaft and the disk a to rotate. Theports W and X are arranged diametrically opposite eachother. ThevalveZ,being supported upon the disk a, will rotate with the disk, so that byrotating the shaft b and the disk a the position of the valve may bechanged with relation to the port it covers orbe turned from one port tothe other, as and for the-purpose presently described. The valve is setso as to not entirely cover the port X, as indicated in broken lines,Fig. 5. This will leave a slight aperture through the port X sufiicientto permit the fluid to slowly escape on its return, as before described,and this aperture IIO IIS

I 3pc may be adjusted to be of a greater or less extent by rotating' thedisk t accordingly, thus making the apparatus adjustable, so as to offera greater or less resistance to the closing of the door.

As represented in the drawings the apparatus is set for a right-handswinging door. If the same apparatus be required for a lefthand swingingdoor, then the valve is swung around from over the port X and so as tocover the port WV. This will reverse both the free and restricted flowof the fluid, it being understood that the action of the spring isto bereversed accordingly and in the well-known manner. As here representedthis may be done by reversing` the engagement of the pawl N with thewheel O. The shaft l) extends above the valve chamber, and is providedwith a suitable handle g, as a means for conveniently rotating the shaftto adjust the valve.

The aperture for the return of the fluid may be arranged in variousways--as, for illustration, it may be through ahole in the post Q, asindicated by broken lines at d, Fig. 5.

It is not essential to the invention that the valve for the free escapeof the fluid shall be adjustable, as I have described, and it may bedifferently arranged-as, for illustration, it may be arranged in thepost Q, as represented in broken lines, Fig. 4, e representing thepassage, and fthe flap-valve, which opens freely in one direction forthe escape of the fluid, but resists that return in the oppositedirection, a suitable restricting-aperture being made for the return ofthe fluid. IVhile, therefore, preferring the construction of valve andvalve-chamber first described, I do not wish to be understood aslimiting the invention to any particular construction of valve foreither escape of the fluid or of opening to restrict the return of thefluid. The door-spring or force for closing the door may be applied by`any of the known means, it not being essential to the invention thatthe spring shall be combined as a part of the apparatus. By thisconstruction it will be seen that all the parts are of circular orcylindrical shape, so that the entire work may be produced aslathe-work, thusV making the construction extremely cheap, yet durableand effective, and because of the peculiar construction described but avery small amount of fluid is required for operation.

l. In a door check, a circular chamber closed at both its ends andadapted to contain fluid, a vertical post at one side of said chamber, apiston in said chamber of circular shape, but of less diameter than thediameter of the said chamber, the said piston constructed with a recessat one side to embrace and work ,upon said post as an axis, a verticalshaft concentrically arranged in said chamber, said shaft adapted forconnection with thedoor and extending into the said piston and providedwith an eccentric within the piston, but the shaft-eccentric beingconcentric with the piston, the eccentricity of the said eccentriccorresponding to the difference in diameter between the piston and thechamber, and so that the periphery of the piston on the longest radiusof the eccentric will always be in contact with the correspondingsurface ot' the chamber, a passage leading from one side of the pistonin said chamber to the opposite side of the piston, the said passageprovided with a valve opening freely in one direction, but closed in theopposite direction, and a restricting-aperture opening from the chamberon one side of the piston to the same chamber on the opposite side ofthe piston, but in the opposite direction to the opening of the valve,substantially as described.

2. In a door-check, the combination of a fluid-chamber circular in shapeclosed at its two ends, a post arranged at one side of said chamber, apiston of circular shape arranged in said chamber, but of less externaldiameter than the internal diameter of the chainber, the pistonconstructed with a recess at one side to embrace said p ost and so as toswing thereon as an axis, a shaft concentrically arranged through saidchamber and extending outward, said shaft adapted for connection withthe door and extending into the said piston and constructed with aneccentric within the piston, but the shaft-eccentric being concentricwith the piston, the eccentricity of said eccentric corresponding to thedifference in diameter between the said piston and chamber, avalve-chamber arranged outside said piston-chamber and of circularshape, a passage leading from the chamber on one side of said postthrough a port into said valve-chamber, a second passage leading fromthe said chamber onthe other side of said post through a port into thesame valve-chamber, the said ports being independent of each other, arotative disk carried by a shaft concentric with said valvechamber andby which shaft said disk may be rotated, and a valve hung upon said diskin a position corresponding to one of said ports, and so as tosubstantially close that port in one direction, but open freely in theopposite direction, the said valve by its rotation being adapted foradjustment to either port, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

GRANVILLE W. WRIGHT.

Titnessesz HERMAN II. SCHARF, WM. S. COOKE.

IIQ

